I remember it's only been 4 days since I moved to New York a month ago, I got introduced to some Indonesian friends living in Elmhurst, Queens. They had a car so we took a ride around Williamsburg and parked a couple of blocks near the venue. I had no idea what were we getting into, but what I know back then was the fact that it's super crowded and damned hot (almost 34°C!). Now ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to:

OLMC FEAST a.k.a THE GIGLIO FEAST

The Giglio Feast, also known as OLMC Feast (stands for Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a neighborhood church which becomes the primary longtime sponsor of the event) is held every year on July for the past 100 years, commemorating an extraordinary bit of southern Italian history in Brooklyn. The festival has its own schedule so you better check out their website before planning to come here. I just knew that what I attend was the closing ceremony on July 20th, which is probably why it was so glorious.

“Imagine a 5-ton, 5-story tall hand-carved Saint in a tower and a 12pcs brass band playing on a platform, all being carried on the shoulders of 125 Italian men in the hot and humid NYC summer .... Now imagine them dancing this giant chaos contraption through the streets, while some older Italian screams a broken dialect of authentic “ITALIANO, BROOKLYNESE!” through a megaphone, and finally witness all of those men lifting the whole tower. ”

Yes, it was awesome. So full of people dancing around and chanting in Italian, it did not feel like in NYC at all. Now, what's a festival without a celebration of food? These are the kinds of food you will possible encounter at The Giglio Feast:

From Lou's Clam Bar & Fried Seafood, which has been serving the festival for years, and then all kinds of Italian sausages with peppers and onions, pork or beef bracciole (smoked sliced of meat), grilled chicken skewers, to the heaven for sweet … — From Lou's Clam Bar & Fried Seafood, which has been serving the festival for years, and then all kinds of Italian sausages with peppers and onions, pork or beef bracciole (smoked sliced of meat), grilled chicken skewers, to the heaven for sweet tooth out there: Carmel Apple, Fried Oreos and Funnel Cakes, Zeppoles (deep fried dough ball with powdered sugar and various filling) and Calzones.

If you're planning to visit NYC around July, make sure to include this on your list. :) Cheers!

The Giglio Feast/The OLMC Feast
North 8th and Havermeyer Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Early Summer, July every year.
http://www.olmcfeast.com/